“The Sopranos” was an undeniable game changer for television, but decoding the genius behind the iconic show requires exploring the many sides of its creator, David Chase. Wise Guy lifts the veil on the multifaceted mind that brought Tony and his crew to our screens.
We learn Chase first fathomed “The Sopranos” as a big screen project starring Hollywood heavyweights like Robert De Niro. After television networks passed, it was the edgy upstart HBO who saw its subversive potential. There Chase had the freedom to peel back society’s layers and question what draws us to deeply flawed characters.
That complexity traces back to Chase’s own past. The son of an Italian-American family, he displayed a rebellious streak from his student films onward. Yet frustrations with standard television also pushed him to craft a drama reflective of real human nature in all its moral messiness. Interviewed in Melfi’s office, Chase alternates between revealing new sides and playing his cards close like one of his own creations.
Through these varied glimpses of Chase across the decades, Wise Guy presents a multifaceted auteur who has long pondered television’s ability to challenge simplistic notions of good and evil. The documentary is a fitting tribute, peeling back the layers of his seminal series through a director equally fascinated with life’s infinite shades of grey.
The Long Road to Tony Soprano
David Chase’s journey to creating one of the greatest TV shows ever was a long one. Growing up in New Jersey in the 1940s, he came from a big Italian family that no doubt influenced his later work. As a student at Stanford, he was already experimenting with make-your-own-film techniques well before they became mainstream.
Looking to break into Hollywood after college, Chase moved out west with his wife. But finding work in movies proved impossible in the early 1970s. He managed to sell a low-budget horror script called “Grave of the Vampires,” but it didn’t lead anywhere. Chase was on the brink of giving up on the business altogether.
That’s when he caught a lucky break writing for a TV series called “The Bold Ones” in the 1970s. It was here Chase first realized television’s potential, even if networks placed limits on what could be shown. Growing frustrated, he began dreaming up a gritty drama inspired by his mother’s stories from back home.
Over the next two decades, Chase shuffled between respected shows that still fell short of his ambitions, like “The Rockford Files.” All the while, his ideas for a Mob series with complex characters grew clearer. When cable stations loosened restrictions in the 1990s, HBO was ready to give Chase the freedom to fully actualize his vision as “The Sopranos.” It would take a couple more decades of twists and turns, but the rest was history.
Breaking into the Big Leagues
Chase first envisioned The Sopranos as a mob drama on the big screen. With De Niro and Bancroft on board, it would’ve packed quite a punch. But movie execs were hesitant, so Chase took his script to TV instead. Here, networks baulked at the show’s edgy, nuanced characters who challenged easy answers.
Undeterred, Chase kept searching for a home for his work. That’s when HBO saw The Sopranos’ potential to push boundaries in a way broadcasting couldn’t match. Here was a place willing to take risks and creative control that ensured the integrity of Chase’s vision.
Still, even HBO brass had doubts about basing the show in New Jersey, worrying over costs. But Chase insisted it was vital. His garden state roots and intimate Mafia memories from youth shaped the soul of the story. HBO backed him, cementing their reputation as a destination for groundbreaking stories.
The lengthy development was frustrating, yet allowed the Sopranos gestation. Its complex characters grew in depth, and audiences fell for their all-too-human flaws. Through setbacks, Chase’s tireless drive kept that special story inching towards the screen. At last it found its perfect partner, ready to let its layers of mystery and moral quandaries emerge without compromise. The television revolution had begun.
The Search for the Right Fit
Putting The Sopranos on screen involved finding just the right people. First up: casting. We see audition clips galore as Chase sought actors who could fill out complex characters beyond surface-level depictions. Many were impressed, but none quite had that extra something.
Then along came Michael Imperioli. With long hair and a full personality, here was Chase’s Christopher—body and soul. Lorraine Bracco also aimed higher than the expected role, seeing her brilliance was perfect for neurotic Dr. Melfi. But the true standout was James Gandolfini. As soon as he began reading lines, Tony leapt off the page with raw charisma.
Of course, assembling the team was just the start. Chase’s demanding directing meant juggling scores of interconnected plotlines. Crew members like cinematographer Alik Sakharov worked tirelessly too, bringing a cinemascope that breathed new life into the small screen.
Chase also pushed actors farther than many had gone. Gandolfini especially threw himself into Tony, sometimes too much. The wild schedule tested everyone. But through it all, their shared obsession for getting this story right united the Sopranos family. Under Chase’s visionary leadership, they strove to raise the bar for what television could be.
The Ripple Effect of a Televisual Tour de Force
By upending conventions, The Sopranos created a new golden age of television. Chase pulled no punches, depicting the psyche of mob boss Tony Soprano and his associates. Graphic violence and morally gray characters became staples of prestige cable drama thanks to this boundary-pushing series.
Its twisting plotlines and multifaceted characters stuck with viewers long after episodes ended. The Sopranos proved audiences had an appetite for nuanced struggles beyond clear-cut heroes and villains. It intensified the emotional pulls of loyalty, ethics, and addiction in vivid yet subtle ways.
The show’s legacy is still felt in daring series like Breaking Bad and Mad Men, which treat crime and human complexity with equal weight. By evolving alongside Tony week by week, fans felt part of an unforgettable shared experience. The Sopranos remained culturally relevant years on through references everywhere, from memes to podcasts.
Its willingness to subvert expectations and tackle societal issues with darkness and humor laid the blueprint for risk-taking storytelling. The ripples of Chase’s creative watershed continue spreading through dramas that aim for the same standard of visual splendor and psychological depth. The Sopranos’ status as the reigning giant of its medium remains undisputed.
Backstage at the Bada Bing
Wise Guy pulls back the curtain on the colorfully talented performers who brought The Sopranos’ New Jersey to life. We get candid stories of their bonds and clashes on set.
James Gandolfini worked tirelessly to channel Tony’s shadows, but his intensity took a toll. Through it all, co-stars like Edie Falco remained devoted friends, helping him through personal battles. Behind closed doors, the cast grew into an extended family.
Elsewhere tales are amusing, like Tony Sirico resisting a Pine Barrens makeover. At times drama erupted, like when Lorraine Bracco learned her character’s fate over dinner with Chase. But their director also showed care, reworking scripts around actors’ new pregnancies.
Chase drove performers to confront emotional depths, pulling unmatched performances from willing volunteers. We sensed the tightrope many walked, embracing complex roles while retaining their own identities. Their magic reflected Chase nurturing an environment where creative risks were rewarded, not punished.
For six epic seasons, these small-screen titans inhabited characters as complex as the humans who portrayed them. Together, through art and friendship, they brought The Sopranos’ fiery brand of humanity to unforgettable life.
Wrapping Up Wise Guy
With “Wise Guy,” director Alex Gibney delivers the insightful retrospective that “The Sopranos” has long deserved. His film pulls back the curtain on David Chase’s creative process and illuminates why this groundbreaking show continues to captivate.
By chronicling the personal influences, struggles, and triumphs behind the series, Wise Guy provides a window into the genius of Chase’s writing. We also gain new appreciation for the cast’s extraordinary performances, especially Gandolfini’s mesmerizing portrayal of Tony.
More than a decade after its finale, the documentary proves The Sopranos remains profoundly influential. Its exploration of ethics, addiction, and American identity resonates strongly to this day. Wise Guy celebrates television’s grandest achievement through those who sweated bringing its complex characters and storylines to life.
For fans and newcomers alike, the documentary honors Chase’s creations in a fittingly rich, compelling manner. In doing justice to this cultural touchstone, Gibney has crafted his own cinematic masterpiece certain to enlighten for years to come.
The Review
Wise Guy: David Chase And The Sopranos
Wise Guy offers viewers an invaluable behind-the-scenes look at the creative forces that made The Sopranos such a groundbreaking television experience. By chronicling David Chase's inspiration and guiding vision as well as the tremendous talents of the cast and crew, the documentary illuminates what made this crime drama such an unforgettable pop cultural touchstone. For fans seeking new appreciation of this influential work and those yet to discover it, Wise Guy delivers invaluable storytelling and artistic lessons in a highly engaging package.
PROS
- Provided unprecedented character depth and complexity for a television series
- Explored profound themes of family, crime, morality, and American culture
- Stellar performances from Gandolfini and the entire cast
- Innovative cinematic direction raised the bar for TV production values.
- Deeply compelling and rewatchable narrative kept audiences invested.
- Remains hugely influential on subsequent generations of television works
CONS
- At over 2 hours, documentary length may deter some viewers.
- Requires familiarity with The Sopranos to fully appreciate analysis
- Scenes of violence, profanity, and crime may turn off some audiences.
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